Saturday, June 13, 2020

Onix Pokémon Crochet Pattern


Onix has always been one of my favorite Pokémon, probably because I love snakes! Onix is kind of like a rock snake.

I crocheted this amigurumi Onix Pokémon for my sister for her birthday recently, so I decided to upload the pattern to Etsy for people to purchase.

The finished product is 28 inches from head to tail if Onix is stretched out. If Onix is placed in an "s" shape, it is about 19 inches tall from the top of the horn to the tail. The size will vary depending on the size of the crochet hook that is used, the yarn weight, and the yarn tension.

You will need to be familiar with how to crochet in a spiral round, basic crochet stitches, and how to crochet in rows. Also, there is the option to sculpt Onix in a manner similar to doll sculpting to make it look more rock-like. This is optional, so it is not required to know how to do this. However, a brief explanation is provided in the pattern.

If you would like to purchase this item, click here!

Here are some pictures of Onix.







Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Loolilia Instructions

It has come to my attention that some people who are interested in my Loolilia game want to read the instructions to know if it is something they are interested in. Click here if you want to read the instructions. I will discuss a few of the instructions here.

Number of Players: 1-4
How the Heroes Win: Work as a team to adventure through different Dungeon tiles until you defeat Sarahos or another Boss Monster and destroy the Crystal. Along the way, you will battle corrupted creatures (Monsters), collect treasure, and learn new spells or abilities.
How the Monsters Win: If all the Heroes become corrupted (their health falls to 0) the Monsters win.

 
Number of Players

It is recommended that all 4 Heroes are used, regardless of the number of players. If there are less than 4 players, the 4 Heroes can be split between the players. If you choose to use less Heroes, make the following changes:
·        3 Heroes: Every hero gets 1 added to their armor bonus. They also get 3 more health.
·        2 Heroes: Both Heroes take 2 turns every round. They get 1 added to their armor bonus and 3 more health.
·        1 Hero: The Hero takes 4 turns every round. They get 1 added to their armor bonus and 5 more health.
This game can also be for 5 players if one player controls the Monsters while the rest control the Heroes.


Different Game Modes

There are 3 different game formats that can be played: Dungeon Mode, Dungeon Adventure Mode, and Deep Dungeon Mode.Dungeon Mode is the easiest, and only the easier Dungeon Tiles are used. In Dungeon Adventure Mode, the Dungeon Tiles and Deep Dungeon Tiles are used, making the game medium difficulty. Lastly, in Deep Dungeon Mode, only the more difficult Deep Dungeon Tiles are used.
  • Dungeon Mode - It is recommended that the first game you play is Dungeon Mode. This is the easiest mode because only the easier Dungeon Tiles are used. The Heroes start the game at the Entrance Tile and win once they reach the descending stairs.
  • Dungeon Adventure Mode - This is the recommended way to play, and can be played in one session or two. Also, this mode is medium difficulty because both the Dungeon Tiles and Deep Dungeon Tiles are used. Once the Heroes reach the descending stairs, the Dungeon Tiles are removed from the game, and the Ascending Stairs Tile is placed in the play area. Then, the Heroes continue exploring until they reach the Crystal Tile. This tile will have a Boss Monster and the Crystal. The Heroes win if they defeat the Boss Monster and destroy the Crystal (by interacting with it).
  • Deep Dungeon Mode - This mode is the most difficult because only the Deep Dungeon Tiles are used. The Heroes start the game at the Ascending Stairs Tile and win once they defeat the Boss Monster and destroy the Crystal.

Regardless of the chosen game format, each game will be different because different tiles will be used each time, and the Heroes will encounter different cards with weapons, armor, spells, and abilities.

Dungeon Tiles VS Deep Dungeon Tiles
Dungeon Tiles have Normal Monsters, Treasure Chests, Pit Traps, and Spike Traps. In contrast, Deep Dungeon Tiles have Normal, Fire, and Ice Monsters, Fire and Ice Places of Power, Spike Traps, and Lava Traps. Also, one of the Deep Dungeon Tiles (the Crystal Tile) has a Boss Monster. Basically, the Monsters and traps are more dangerous in the Deep Dungeon Tiles, and the treasure is more powerful.

How to Play
The game is played in rounds, with each Hero taking a turn followed by the Monsters (if any Monsters are revealed). A Hero picks 2 actions to use each turn and can choose to use the same action twice. The actions are: 
  • Interact - A Hero can open a door, interact with a Fire or Ice Place of Power, open a treasure chest, use the stairs, or interact with the Crystal.
  • Move - A d6 is used for movement. Heroes can't move diagonally or through Monsters or Space Blocking Objects.
  • Attack - A Hero must be adjacent to a Monster to attack, unless they are using a ranged attack or spell. If a ranged attack is being used, the Hero must be on the same tile as the Monster and have line of sight. When attacking, a d6, d8, d10, or d12 will be rolled (depending on the weapon being used) and damage will be applied to the Monster. If the Monster has any armor, the damage will be reduced. If a Monster reaches 0 health, they become uncorrupted (defeated) and are removed from the board.
  • Cast a Spell - Only the Wizard can cast spells. To cast a spell on a Hero or Monster, the Wizard must have line of sight to the target and be on the same tile. When a spell is used, a Charge Counter is removed from the spell. Spells usually have 3 Charges.
  • Use an Ability - Most abilities have 3 Charges. The Shifter has a special ability where they transform into a Monster. At the beginning of the game, the Shifter can only transform into a Giant Spider. When the Shifter is transformed, he/she gains temporary health and uses the attack and abilities (if any) that the Monster has.
  • Give - A Hero can give a card (such as a weapon or armor card) to an adjacent Hero.

Traps
There are 3 different traps that are activated if a Hero moves onto its space. Armor and other affects can't reduce any damage from traps. 
  • Spike Trap - If a Hero steps on a Spike Trap, a d6 is rolled. If 1-3 is rolled, the Hero is damaged and rolls a d6 to determine the amount of damage. Also, the Hero's turn ends. If a 4-6 is rolled, the Hero is unharmed and may continue his/her turn.
  • Pit Trap - If a Hero steps on a Pit Trap, the Hero is not damaged, but must end his/her turn immediately.
  • Lava Trap - If a Hero steps on a Lava Trap, the Hero takes d10 damage and his/her turn ends immediately.

Special Spaces
When a Hero steps on a Treasure Chest, Ice Place of Power, or Fire Place of Power, the corresponding card is drawn. Some cards have negative effects (such as Monster Attacks), and some cards do nothing. However, some cards contain armor, weapons, spells, or abilities. Many of these cards can only be used by certain Heroes, as specified on the card.

Opening a Door
When a Hero uses an action to open a door, the top tile of the tile stack is drawn and placed adjacent to the current tile with the doors lining up. In some cases, the tile will have to be placed in a way that some of the doors do not match up with another door. If this happens, the door is a dead-end. (When the Hero opens the door, there is simply a wall behind it.) After a new tile is revealed, a Monster Card is drawn and the Monster is placed if a Monster symbol is on the tile. 

The Monsters' Turn
Unless the players chose to play the alternate rules where one player controls the Monsters, the Monsters follow a set sequence on their turn. First, a Monster decides its focus for the turn. A Monster will focus on the closest Hero, or the Hero with the most health if 2 or more Heroes are an equal distance away. If there is still a tie, the Heroes choose what the Monster's focus is. Next, the Monster always uses its first action to move towards the Hero. If the Monster is already adjacent to the Hero, it does nothing for its first action. Then, the Monster will attack or use a spell or ability on the Hero. If the Monster has both an attack and a spell or ability, a d6 is rolled to decide what the Monster will do. If a 1-3 is rolled, the Monster will use its Attack action. If a 4-6 is rolled, the Monster will use its Spell or Ability action. The Monsters also discard Charge Counters when using a Spell or Ability.

Falling to 0 Health
If a Hero reaches 0 health, they become corrupted (defeated) and are removed from the game. There is an Uncorrupt Spell that the Wizard has a chance of acquiring during the game which can uncorrupt one Hero and return them to the game with full health.

Winning
As stated previously, the Heroes win if they reach the last tile, defeat a Boss Monster, and destroy the crystal. If Dungeon Mode is being played, the Heroes win if they reach the descending stairs.
This is a picture taken with 4 players who are playing Dungeon Adventure Mode. They are in the Deep Dungeon, and three Monsters are currently in play: Fire Monk, Lady Necromancer, and Giant Spider. The Elf is close to being Corrupted (defeated) because he/she only has 8 health left and no Charges on the Rapid Shot ability.

Friday, March 6, 2020

Forest Survival Cards Preview

I have finished making all of the text for the cards that will be in the Forest Survival game. Now, I'm working hard to make all the artwork for the cards. I'm not going to be using any images from other sources, just making the images myself. Here is a small preview of a few of the cards I have finished! Just so you know, the borders will not be so large when the cards are finished. They have a large border now because of "bleed" during the printing process.

I also will give everyone a preview of what the gameplay will be like. This game will be a deck building game similar to games such as Dominion and the DC Deck-Building Game. However, Forest Survival is also very different in some ways to both of those games.


Object of the Game: The object of the game is to earn the most Victory Points. These points are represented by the star in the bottom right corner of every card. The game ends when all of the Disaster Cards have been survived.
Start of the Game: At the beginning of the game, each player chooses an animal to play the game as. Each animal has its own special ability that affects the gameplay. Each player starts with a specific set of Initial Cards (7 "Look for Food" cards and 3 "Sleep" cards).

Deck Building: Each player starts with a deck of 10 cards and draws 5 for their hand. At the end of a player's turn, he/she discards all cards that were played or not played from their hand. Then, he/she draws 5 more cards. If a player's deck runs out, the discard pile is shuffled. This forms an endless deck. As a player gains cards from the Gathering, the cards are placed in his/her discard pile.

Gaining Cards: During a player's turn, he/she will gain cards from the Gathering using Survival Points. A card's cost in Survival Points is listed in the heart on the top right of each card.

Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores: The animal that each player plays the game as is a Carnivore, Herbivore, or Omnivore. This is represented by the color of the card. A red Animal Card is a Carnivore, a green Animal Card is an herbivore, and a red and green card is an Omnivore. If a Carnivore plays an Herbivore Card during its turn, the card loses all its effects and just allows the Carnivore to draw a card. If an Herbivore plays a Carnivore Card during its turn, the same thing happens: the Carnivore Card only allows the Herbivore to draw a card. However, an Omnivore can use the effects of all cards. This is why the ability on an Omnivore Animal Card is usually less powerful, because the Omnivores have the ability to use all the cards in the game to their advantage.

Disaster Cards: There also will be a Disaster Card in play at all times. A Disaster Card has a Threat (like an Attack) that affects all players and triggers when it comes into play. Players can use Survival Points to Survive a Disaster Card, in the same way that cards from the Gathering are gained. When a player Survives a Disaster Card, the Threat triggers again against all other players. Also, the next Disaster Card is revealed and its Threat triggers.


If anyone has any suggestions or questions about the game, feel free to comment below!

The Moose card at the bottom is an Herbivore Animal Card that players can choose to play the game as.

Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Working on Art for Games

I'm working on creating artwork for Loolilia Version 2, and for my new Forest Survival game. It takes me a long time to create artwork, so I won't be done for a while with it. It has been quite fun drawing these images! Here is a sneak peak:
New Shifter
The background may change for this image, but this is what the Shifter looks like in Loolilia. If you haven't played the game yet, the Shifter is a Hero that can shapeshift into different Monsters. At the beginning of the game, she can only shapeshift into a Giant Spider, but she can learn how to shapeshift into other Monsters during the game. This is what the original version of the Shifter looks like:
Original Shifter

Please comment below to tell me which one you think is better! I made the original Shifter using Epic Character Generator, but I drew the new Shifter myself. People have suggested to me that I should use my own drawings instead of these computer generated images, but I really want to know what you think!

Here are images of the original and new Elf as well to compare:

New Elf
Original Elf

Friday, January 24, 2020

Working on a new game! Forest Survival

I've started working on a new game called Forest Survival. This game will be a deck building game where players will use Survival Points to buy cards and try to end the game with the most Victory Points. There will be Survival, Carnivore, Herbivore, Population, Water, Shelter, and Life cards. Also, Disaster cards will pose negative effects on all players. Each player will play the game as a forest animal of their choice, and each forest animal will have its own ability that it can use during the game. Here are some images of the cards in the game! They are not finished yet, but they will eventually have artwork.


Reward Coupons

It can be expensive to buy tangible rewards for your students. However, rewards can be very motivating to students. Using Reward Coupons is a great way to reward students and not have to spend money buying rewards! 

I used these coupons with my Sixth Grade students. Even my students who struggled with managing their behavior wanted to earn Reward Coupons, so these worked well to motivate my students to have positive behaviors in class! The most popular coupons were Seat Swap, Game Time, Lunch Bunch, and Use a Pen. 
I created a resource that includes 20 editable Reward Coupons that can be changed to meet a classroom's needs. The coupons are color coded, so some coupons are worth more than others. Black coupons are worth the least, and blue coupons are worth the most. There are several ways that these coupons can be used. You can:

· Assign a point/dollar value for each color of coupon.
· Tell the students to pick a coupon that is a specific color depending on what level of reward you want to provide.
· Use a rewards chart where students may earn a coupon of a specific color when they reach a certain level.
· Let students earn a coupon of a specific color when they reach a certain amount of Dojo Points (From Class Dojo).

You can laminate these coupons for repeated use, or you can print them and have the students write their names on them when they earn a coupon.

Click here if you would like to check out my Reward Coupons on Teachers Pay Teachers!


Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Loolilia Board Game Arrived

My copy of Loolilia arrived in the mail today! I will attach some of the pictures from playing the game. It came nicely shrink wrapped, and all the pieces are really good condition. I was surprised how sturdy everything was. The tokens are thick especially, which I think is important since tokens are picked up and moved around a lot. If you want to purchase this game, you can head to here to see it in my shop on The Game Crafter.

If you want to read more about what this game is all about, click here!
The game came wrapped in shrink wrap.

The back of the box



The types of cards in the game








A gameplay shot






What the inside of the box looked like when it arrived


The back of the Character Cards

Baby Yoda Crochet Amigurumi

I recently made Baby Yoda with a pattern I purchased from craftyiscoolcrochet on Etsy. Unfortunately, it appears that pattern is not longer listed for sale on Etsy, however. The pattern was very easy to follow, and was a lot of fun to make! I did have two issues with it though.

Firstly, the pattern suggested using Buttercream Alpaca Sage yarn, which I did use. The yarn was beautiful and soft. However, I didn't buy enough of it, and when I went back to the store to buy more, there was no more. I came to find out that this particular yarn was not being made anymore. As a result, I had to go on a long hunt to find more, and eventually I found some. The other thing that was difficult was making the "coat" for Baby Yoda. It was made out of textured brown yarn, and it was impossible to see the stitches. So, I had to crochet by feel. The first row was the hardest when I was crocheting into the chain. However, I enjoyed how that yarn made the coat look so much, that now I'm working on making a stuffed bear using that type of yarn.

Baby Yoda turned out so well! It is life sized, and very soft. I made it as a gift for my husband, who also likes Baby Yoda a lot.

Sunday, January 5, 2020

How to Make a Board Game DIY

          I have always loved making board games since I was a small child. Of course, the quality and type of these board games has changed a lot over the years. At first, I would take board games that were already made and change them. It all started when I bought a Jumanji board game that didn't have all the pieces, so I had to make my own rules.
          There is no wrong or right way to make a board game. If you are just starting out, the best thing to do is to pick a board game you like, and copy some of the aspects of it. For example, a lot of people start out by making a game that is like Monopoly. I have never made one like Monopoly, but I know lots of people who have.
Steps to Make a Board Game
  1. Make a list or sketch of what you think the game is going to be about. Here is an example of the notes I made as I thought about how to make the Loolilia board game. If you buy and play the game, you will notice that although it is similar to these notes, it also is different. The important thing to do when making these notes is to get all of your ideas out, even if they don't make sense in the order you write them.
    My original notes for Loolilia
  2. Make a rough draft of the board game. Make the board, tiles, and/or cards you think you will use in the game out of regular paper. You can draw it first, or you could create it on the computer with a program such as Microsoft Word or Photoshop. 
  3. Play the game using the rough draft with at least one other person. It is important you test out the game with other people so you can see any flaws in the game, or anything that is confusing to others.
  4. Edit your rough draft, and play the game again. If possible, it is best to follow this step multiple times.
  5. Write instructions for your board game. This is a crucial step. Sometimes people don't want to write the instructions because they think that they will remember the rules anyway. Speaking from experience, it is likely you will forget the instructions. Also, if you write the instructions, it's easier to explain the game to others, or for others to play the game without you.
    The rules to the rough draft for Loolilia
  6. Finalize your board game. This could mean drawing a nicer copy on paper, printing off a nicer copy, or getting the board game printed through a website such as The Game Crafter.
Suggestions for making a board game on paper:
  • Get 2, 4, or 6 pieces of cardstock and tape them together to make a game board. Make sure the tape is on the backside so it doesn't cover your design. It's best if you don't layer the paper, but lay it next to each other so that it can fold after taping it.
  • Laminate the cardstock after making the design, but before taping the pieces together. Also, you can laminate any cards you make.
    The original character cards (laminated)
    Printed and laminated tiles from the rough draft of Loolilia
  • Use materials you already have to make the playing pieces for your board game. When I first made Loolilia, I used Mega Blocks Dragons (similar to Legos) pieces for the playing pieces.
  • Use a cardboard box to store your board game. Decorate the box as well. You can glue decorative paper on to cover the box.
  • You can buy white cardboard playing pieces with stands. These can be colored on, or have images printed and glued on them. I used this on Amazon.
I just ordered a copy of Loolilia (my final draft from The Game Crafter), so when it arrives I will be uploading images of the final copy. 

The most important thing to remember when making a board game is to have fun with it!


Thursday, January 2, 2020

Play Loolilia - A new dungeon adventuring game!


Loolilia is a cooperative dungeon adventuring game for one to four players. Play as a Shifter, Elf, Fighter, or Wizard as you adventure through Dungeon tiles, fight Monsters, collect treasure, and learn new spells and abilities! Will you be able to destroy the Corruption, or will you become Corrupted?

If you like games such as Dungeons and Dragons, Hero Quest, or Gloomhaven, this is the game for you! Loolilia comes with:
  • 61 Hero and Monster Pawns
  • 36 Different Dungeon Tiles
  • 57 Different Monster Cards (Including Normal Monsters, Ice Monsters, and Fire Monsters)
  • 54 Treasure, Ice Place of Power, and Fire Place of Power Cards (Includes weapons, armor, spells, abilities, and negative cards such as "Monster Attacks!")
  • 4 Character Cards (Shifter, Fighter, Elf, and Wizard)
  • 4 Dice (A d6, d8, d10, and d12)
  • 89 Damage and Charge Counters
  • 4 Reference Cards
  • 1 Map Key
  • 1 Instruction Book

The Story Behind Loolilia


          The world of Loolilia used to be a place where all creatures lived peacefully together. Death only ever occurred due to natural causes. Loolilia lived in harmony with nature for thousands of years. It was strictly forbidden to ever take the life of another living thing, except when food was needed. However, this all changed during the time of the Corruption. The world plunged into chaos. It all began when Sarahos, Loolilia’s most renowned and beloved wizard, began experimenting with a Crystal he found deep under the ground. The Crystal called to him, promising him power and immortality. Sarahos connected his life force with the Crystal, which caused his complete corruption. From that day forward, Sarahos sought out every living creature, desiring to corrupt it as well. All the innocent creatures became Monsters. However, Sarahos wanted every living thing under his control, so he sent his Monsters out to corrupt sentient beings as well. When a sentient being was corrupted, they became a ghostly shadow, losing their soul forever. Loolilia was dying. What once was a beautiful and peaceful place was turning to darkness and chaos. Fortunately, not all hope was lost. Four brave Heroes delve deep into the Crystal Dungeons, hoping to destroy the Crystal and the Corruption once and for all.

  • The game costs $58.51 on The Game Crafter. Click Here to go to the website to check out the game!

  • If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below. I will respond as soon as possible.



https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/loolilia
Front of the game box

https://www.thegamecrafter.com/games/loolilia
Back of the game box